Intellectual Outcome in Hypothyroid Children Screened at Birth

Abstract

Screening newborn infants for congenital hypothyroidism is effective in preventing mental retardation. Children who are identified and treated within the first month of life are normal in most aspects of physical and global intellectual development. However, longitudinal studies have indicated the existence of persistent sequeales. “We are beginning to realize that in spite of early recognition and onset of therapy, children with congenital hypothyroidism exhibit mild abnormalities of perception and coordination at later ages.”(Jean H. Dussault, Peter Walker, 1983). The long term prognosis can be correlated with the severity and duration of congenital hypothyroidism at the time of initial diagnosis, that signify in utero deleterous effect of fetal hypothyroidism. Many studies have shown that factors such as etiology of the hypothyroidism or levels of residual hormone synthesis also influence the degree of neurological impairement. Recent investigations (5,8) have also focused on significant correlations between skeletal maturation at the time of diagnosis and severity of congenital hypothyroidism.